2008 WCHR PROFESSIONAL FINALS

FAST FACTS

Sponsored by Stillwell-Hansen, Inc.
Presented by John R. Ingram Fund & The Ingram Family
Produced by The American Hunter-Jumper Foundation, Inc.

Hosted by the Capital Challenge Horse Show

Winner is the Recipient of the AHJF Professional Title

WHAT: $7,500 Professional World Championship Hunter Rider Finals for the 2008 AHJF Professional WCHR title.  (The winner of the Championship will be presented with a media sponsorship package.)

COST: Spectators can come watch the event for FREE!

WHY: This is the only hunter competition for professional hunter riders where riders compete head to head after accumulating points throughout the year-long competition season. The top six ranked riders compete Friday night for one of the most sought after hunter rider titles.

WHEN: October 3, 2008 – 7:45 PM - as part of the Capital Challenge Horse Show

7:15: Exhibitor Party on Concourse with Open Buffet presented by The Gochman Family

7:30:  Various AHJF Awards Presentations in Arena (AHJF Junior Hunter Challenge Regional winners, Lifetime Achievement, Sportsmanship Award, etc.) Post Event Reception:  Press Conference and Dessert Buffet in Paddock Lounge

WHERE: Prince Georges Equestrian Center, Upper Marlboro, MD

CLASS SPECS:  NO ENTRY FEE  -  All Six receive prize awards, ribbons, The “All the Way” Perpetual Trophy, donated by Elizabeth Busch Burke and Lysa Burke Horkan, and $3,000; $2,000; $1,000; $500; $500; $500. The Far West Farms Perpetual Trophy donated to the AHJF by The Karazissis Family is presented to the owner of the horse with the highest single round score in the WCHR Professional Finals class.  (Cooler awarded to winner.)

Open to the top six professional riders in the National WCHR Final Standings, including points earned from the divisions at Capital Challenge and the WCHR Professional Challenge Class.  All riders must provide a horse for the class and ride that horse in the first round.  With the exception of Pre-Green horses, all horses are eligible.  The class will be judged on presentation of the horse and style of the rider. The Class is scored under the open numerical system by multiple teams of two judges.  Each team will present one score and the scores averaged for a single round total.  Each rider will compete in three rounds on three different horses (assigned by a draw for the horses) over a course of eight to ten fences set at 3'6" and receive a score for each round.  After three rounds the three best riders with the highest cumulative scores will advance to a fourth round on a horse they have not ridden.  The fourth round will be a handy course where brilliance will be rewarded.  The rider with the highest cumulative four round total will be the winner.  In case of a tie for first place there will be a ride off to determine the winner.  

CONTACT: Press Link PR, 631-773-6155 – Diana De Rosa, cell: 516-848-4867 or the American Hunter-Jumper Foundation, Michele Perla, 508-835-8813, day of event: 774-696-0170, email: ahjf@earthlink.net

INFORMATION ABOUT THE HOST SHOW & AHJF: Website: www.capitalchallngehorseshow.com, www.ahjf.org